Lake Pichola
Pichola Lake was originally created in the 15th century by
a Banjara grain merchant ,who built a small Dam here in order
to allow his grain carts to cross over during the monsoon.
As you take a boat tour on Lake Pichola you can see the old
hillside hunting box of the Maharanas and the remnants of
the old fortified walls; the City Palace with its high towers
and turrets ; the lakeside havelis of the old city,with their
cupolated balconies reflected in the waters of the lake,and
the high,triple-arched Gangaur Ghat where women bathe and
wash their cloth and where the colorful Gangaur festival is
celebrated each year in spring .Finally , past the lakeside
temple,you come to the island palaces of Jag Niwas and Jag
Mandir.
Sajjan Garh
It was the monsoon palace of the rulers of Udaipur. It is
built on the hilltop now totally deserted but the view of
the Udaipur city is incomparable. Originally intended to be
a towering five-story astronomical center,it was later abandoned
and uses as a monsoon palace and hunting lodge. Today entry
into the building itself is restricted because it has been
taken over for governmental use, but the view alone makes
a visit worthwhile. At night it is gaudily lit up in pink
and green, causing it to be described as "tutti-frutti"
by Udaipur's inhabitants.
Jag Mandir
The water palace,built in 1620 played and important role in
Udaipur's history, The Mughal prince,khurram exiled by his
father,Emperor Jahangir chose to seek refuge here with the
Mughal's most implacable enemy,The rana of Mewar . Prince
Khurram was here at Jag Mandir when news of his father's death
came in 1627, and he was announced as the new Emperor Shah
Jahan. The close relationship between the two rulers led to
an important new era of peace,prosperity and architectural
renaissance in Udaipur . the apartment where Shah Jahan lived
is a small curiosity,its lower floor designed in the Hindu
tradition and its upper floor in the Mughal tradition,Jag
Mandir saw another dramatic episode enacted during the great
Uprising of 1857,when it sheltered the British families who
had fled from nearby Neemuch. The Rana of Mewar chivalrously
lodged them here,after taking the precaution of destroying
all the town's boats so that the angry rebels would not be
able to get to the island.Now it is the five star heritage
Hotel Lake Palace.
Bagore-ki – Haveli
Formerly it was the rest house for the royal guest. Now it
is converted into the cultural center where you can see the
traditional Rajasthani dance and cultural programs that starts
every day from 7 pm to 8 pm.
Saheliyon ki Bari
These beautiful gardens for the maids of honour were laid
out in the mid-18th century for a retinue of forty-eight young
ladies-in waiting who were sent to Udaipur as part of a princess's
dowry. The gardens has beautiful lawns,lotus pools,marble
pavilions and marble elephant-shaped fountains. |